Trace-fastener for whiffletrees



(No Model.)

J. HUTHER.

TRACE FASTENER FOR WHIFPLETREES. .No. 390,171. Patented Sept. 25, 1 888.

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UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE.

JACOB HUTHER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN C. HAOKETT, OF BELLEVILLE, ILLINOIS.

TRACE-FASTENER FOR WHIFFLETREES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 390,171, dated September 25, 1888.

Application filed January 11, 1888. Serial No. 260,386. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JACOB HUTHER, of the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Trace Fasteners and Detachers for IVhifflt-trees, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and in which Figure I is a front View of a vehicle with my improvement applied. Fig. II is an enlarged View showing the outside of the fastener. Figs. III and IV are sections taken on line III IV, Fig. II, Fig. III showing the fastenerin using [5 position and Fig. IV showing it open to release the trace or tug.

My invention relates to an improved tracefastener for singletrees from which the tug or trace may be readily detached when desired; and my invention consists in features of novelty hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents part of a whit'fletree, into which is inserted a shank, 2, at each end.

3 represents a plate pivoted to the shank 2 at 4, and which has perforated enlargements 5 to receive thejournals 6 of a yoke, 7, which is provided with a loop, 8, and a tongue or pro- 0 jection. 9. When the yokeis closed, thetongue or projection 9 fits in a perforation or hole, 10, in the outer end of the plate 3, (see Fig. III,) and when the free end of the yoke is pulled away from the plate, as shown in Fig. IV, the 5 tongue or projection is withdrawn from the hole or perforation. \Vhen in the using position, the tongue or projection passes through a hole in the tug or trace 11, as shown in Fig. III," and thus connects the tug or trace to the 0 whiifletree, and when it is pulled out, as shown in Fig. IV, the tug or trace is released or de tached. The yoke is held in using position by means of a spring, 12, secured to the plate 3,

preferably by a projection, 14, formed thereon, and which receives the spring and is riveted 5 upon it, as shown in Fig. IV. The free end of the spring bears againsta lip or projection on the journals 6 of the yoke 7, as shown in Figs.

II, III, and IV, and thus tends to hold the yoke in its closed position. In case of an ac- 5o cident, or when it is desired to detach the tugs or traces from the whiffletree, the yokes 7 on the respective ends of the whiffletrees are moved into the position shown in Fig. IV, and this may he done simultaneously by means of a strap, 16, (see Fig. 1,) which connects the yokes, and to which is connected a strap, 17, that may pass up over the dash board of the vehicle. This arrangement provides a cheap and effective fastening and one which may be readily opened to release the tugs.

I claim as my invention 1. In a trace fastener and detacher, the combination of the plate having aperforatiou, 10, and a yoke pivoted to the plate and having a tongue or projection, 9, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In atrace fastener and detacher, the combination of the plate having a perforation, 10, and spring 12, a yoke pivoted to the plate and having a projection, 15, on which the spring 12 bears, a tongue, 9, and a loop, 8, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a trace fastener and detacher, the combination of the shank 2, plate 3, pivoted tothe shank and having a hole or perforation, 10, spring 12, secured to the plate by projection 14, riveted on the spring, yoke 7, havingjournal 6, provided with a lip, 15, and having a projection or tongue, 9, and a loop, 8, substan- So tially as and for the purpose set forth.

JACOB HUTHER.

In presence of--.

(3120. H. KNIGHT, EDWD. S. KNIGHT. 

